New Delhi scraps Indo-Bangla passport scheme

Official sources in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that such a scheme was a security risk and could be misused easily.

The Ministry of External Affairs will scrap off the existing Indo-Bangla passport scheme, under which residents of North Eastern states can avail a special document to travel to the neighbouring country.

Official sources on Friday said such a scheme was a security risk and could be misused easily.

The MEA had already communicated its intention to all the NE states.

Bangladesh has also been asked to scrap the scheme, the sources said.

"It is time to review the Indo-Bangla passport scheme and change it."

Keeping in view the current border scenario, such passports pose a huge threat to the security of the nation as in the past it had been misused by terrorists and smugglers, they added.